Romano et al. (2012) recently published the results of a study in which pregnant rats were treated with a glyphosate-based herbicide formulation from gestational day 18 to postnatal day 5. Various parameters related to sexual behavior and reproductive development were assessed in the resulting male offspring. Based on their results, the study authors claim that glyphosate exposure in the perinatal period causes changes in males that are associated with hypersecretion of androgens. There are a number of issues with this study, however, that preclude such conclusions.

First, as a premise for this study, the authors incorrectly assert that glyphosate is a “potential endocrine chemical disruptor.” As evidence, they cite three in vitro studies of altered aromatase activity conducted in a single laboratory (Benachour et al. 2007; Gasnier et al. 2009; Richard et al. 2005), and their own earlier work suggesting reduced serum testosterone concentrations in response to treatment (Romano et al. 20 ...